Glass makes up 8% of the garbage by weight. Recycling glass saves a ton of resources for every ton recycled. Since glass never wears out it can be recycled forever. Most glass containers have about 25% recycled glass content, saving about 30% of the energy used to make the glass.

Many communities recycle glass bottles and jars, any size, any color, with or without labels, and unbroken. Yes, we all know that when they dump the recyclables into the truck some things get broken, and that ultimately the recycler will crush the glass into "cullet", but because they are usually color-sorted by hand at the facility it is requested that only unbroken items be placed in the bin.

Some glass items are not recyclable. Light bulbs, drinking glasses, window panes, mirrors, pyrex ware, crystal, china and pottery are made from different materials, melt at different temperatures and are therefore not recyclable with glass bottles. Some of these items when crushed with regular glass will contaminate an entire lot, making all of it unrecyclable. So keep them out of the recycling bin. Some things just have to remain trash.